Container Type Size

MARITIME CONTAINERS

The 40 ft (12 m) container is the most popular container worldwide. Longer container types have become more common, especially in North America. Shorter containers (e.g. 10 ft (3.0 m) containers) are rare.
The following table shows the weights and dimensions of the three most common types of containers worldwide. The weights and dimensions quoted below are averages, different manufacture series of the same type of container may vary slightly in actual size and weight.

A number of LD-designation Unit Load Device containers.
While major airlines use containers that are custom designed for their aircraft and associated ground handling equipment the IATA has created a set of standard container sizes, the LD-designation sizes are shown below:

Volume indicated is internal volume:

Container type

Volume

Linear dimensions
(base width / overall width × depth × height)

Remarks

LD2

120 cu ft (3.40 m3)

47 / 62 × 60.4 × 64 in
(120 / 158 × 153 × 163 cm)

contoured, half width

LD3

153 cu ft (4.33 m3)

64.5 / 79 × 60.4 × 64 in
(164 / 201 × 153 × 163 cm)

contoured, half width

LD6

316 cu ft (8.95 m3)

125 / 160 × 60.4 × 64 in
(318 / 407 × 153 × 163 cm)

contoured, full width, equivalent to 2 LD3s

LD8

243 cu ft (6.88 m3)

96 / 125 × 60.4 × 64 in
(244 / 318 × 153 × 163 cm)

contoured, full width, equivalent to 2 LD2s; DQF-prefix

LD11

253 cu ft (7.16 m3)

125 × 60 × 64 in
(318 × 153 × 163 cm)

same as LD6 but without contours; rectangular

Pallet type

Volume

Linear dimensions

Remarks

LD8

243 cu ft (6.88 m3)

60 × 96 in (153 × 244 cm)

same floor dimensions as container variant; FQA-prefix

LD11

253 cu ft (7.16 m3)

60 × 125 in (153 × 318 cm)

same floor dimensions as container variant; FLA- and PLA-prefixes

LD7
(2 pallet variants)

380 cu ft (10.8 m3)
415 cu ft (11.8 m3)

88 × 125 in (224 × 318 cm)
96 × 125 in (244 × 318 cm)

PAG- and P1P-prefixes
PMC- and P6P-prefixes

Pallet volumes shown are built 64 in tall for lower deck loading. Height limit for main deck depends on aircraft type. LD-1, -2, -3, -4, and -8 are those most widely used, together with the rectangular M3 containers.